Panorama Elementary School is in the process of completing their third year using the Math in Focus program. Combined with high-tech touchscreen Smartboards, the curriculum allows the students to solve problems using pictures, abstract concepts and real-world, hands-on experiences. At the beginning of each lesson, students are able to explore a new concept using physical items which they can manipulate or play with. The second stage of the program involves looking at pictures to explore the concepts further. Finally, the students reach the abstract stage of the program, where they combine concepts they learned from the first two stages to solve mathematical problems. Fourth grade teacher Kylar Kudart says the goal of the program is to teach students how math works, and why things are as they are, rather than having them memorize tables and formulas, as traditionally was the case.